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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Ketsuda Phoutinane

Solar Storm means Northern Lights could be visible from Scotland as amber alert issued

Northern Lights could be visible from Glasgow this week as a solar flare is set to hit the planet.

The Met Office says stargazers could catch a glimpse of aurora borealis - if clouds don't get in the way.

A geomagnetic storm warning for Monday and Tuesday has been issued by the Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in the US, reports the Daily Record.

Meanwhile, AuroraWatchUK has also issued an "amber alert" for Northern Lights and predicted "minor geomagnetic activity".

The sight is a result of a coronal mass ejection, which is around a billion tonnes of plasma from the sun, will hit the Earth. The NOAA predicts this will be a Geomagnetic Storm Category G2, which is a moderately strong storm.

A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth that occurs when there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding Earth.

Geomagnetic storms can disrupt global navigational systems and create harmful geomagnetic induced currents (GICs) in the power grid and pipelines.

The SWPC warned: "High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms."

These storms can produce aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.

Keen-eyed viewers in Scotland could catch an appearance of the Northern Lights on Monday and Tuesday nights (October 11 and 12), although ill-timed cloud cover may hinder your chances.

The Met Office said: "Aurora is possible through [the] 11th and 12th across much of Scotland, although cloud amounts are increasing, meaning sightings are unlikely.

"There is a slight chance of aurora reaching the far north of England and Northern Ireland tonight, but cloud breaks and therefore sightings are more likely in Northern Ireland."

Minor storms may continue into today (Tuesday), according to the Met Office.

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